"He had a headache and some dizziness so I made the diagnosis of concussion and as a result I've ruled him out of the Test match.

"He won't be returning to training until he's fully recovered. This morning he still had some symptoms and we have a policy of ruling people out if they have an episode of concussion."

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There had been talk that Rogers may sit out in Dominica in any case, with Shaun Marsh considered a chance to open in a horses-for-courses team with two spinners. That matter appears settled now via unfortunate circumstances.

The issue of head knocks is a hot topic in the football codes and the safety and welfare of batsmen is a particularly sensitive subject in cricket as a result of the death of Phillip Hughes last November.

Ruled out: Chris Rogers of Australia looks at his helmet after being struck while batting during an Australian net session in Dominica. The blow resulted in him being ruled out of the Test. Photo: Getty Images

Rogers was also struck heavily while fielding at short leg in Brisbane last summer and while he was eager to play in Dominica, Brukner was taking no chances.

"This is a black and white rule now," the doctor said. "If someone is concussed they don't play. We used to believe concussion was a relatively insignificant condition and I think now all the evidence shows that we've got to take it much more seriously. Cricket Australia is similar to the football codes in that we are adopting that more serious approach."

Rogers failed a SCAT-3 concussion test, the same tool used in the football codes, on Monday morning. Brukner, a former head medico at Liverpool Football Club, said Rogers' symptoms were not "particularly severe" but were sufficient to warrant him not facing the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc in the nets and then the West Indies quicks from Wednesday.

"It's a not insignificant thing to rule someone out of a Test match. We don't do this lightly. But my first priority and Cricket Australia's first priority is to the individual player and his health," Brukner said.

"He was very disappointed and tried to talk me around as they do but I've spoken to the players and explained the decision to them. That's our policy and it won't be any different no matter who the player is."

There have been other recent incidences where Brukner has had to closely monitor an Australian player who had been hit in the helmet by a ball.

Shane Watson was struck in the nets in Melbourne before the Boxing Day Test against India last December but made a swift recovery the same day.

Cricket Australia adopted a more conservative concussion policy last summer, which takes such decisions out of the players' hands.

"It's definitely unfortunate that's happened, the doc's made that call and the health and safety of each player is key, so hopefully Buck will find his feet soon and he'll be back before you know it," off-spinner Nathan Lyon said.

"We had a talk about it [concussion] last summer after Buck got hit [in Brisbane] and the doc simply made the rule that we don't have a say in it really, so it's up to the doc and our health and safety is the doc's main priority, so we're guided by him."

The West Indies camp were shocked at the scratching of the Australian veteran.

"What's happened to Chris Rogers?" West Indies coach Phil Simmons said. "He's a very important part of the Australian batting lineup. He's been like the glue there with the others coming around and playing a lot of shots. That could be a big miss for them."

Poll

Who will win the 2015 Ashes?

Australia will retain the urn74%

England will regain the urn26%

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Poll closed 24 Aug, 2015

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